James Veni Vidi Vici McMorrow
14 January 2012
CONCERT
James Vincent McMorrow, Eurosonic, Stadsschouwburg, january 12th 2012
MUSIC
A delicate falsetto, a scruffy bearded face and a debut albums filled with heartbreak, recorded in seclusion in a cabin at the coastline. Comparisons to Bon Iver speak for themselves, but James Vincent McMorrows vocals have a more soulful quality to them. Musically, he sounds a bit more spontaneous than his American counterpart. McMorrow traveled across Europe by himself for the most part of 2011, yet tonight he has a five-piece backing band at his disposal. We're in for a dazzling, multi-layered vocals-galore and a more vibrant overall sound.
PLUS
With such a majestic, crisp, five-pronged vocal attack, it really doesn't matter what it is you're singing, the goosebumpy moments are pretty much a given. Still, McMorrow is most intriguing as a solitary performer, notably during 'Red Dust' where his breathy, plaintive falsetto pierces bone and marrow. By himself, McMorrow displays a penchant for dynamic more formadible than his entire band alltogether.
MINUS
This featureless band is exactly the main beef. The drummers' tendency to break into these countryish hoompa-beats, the slide-guitars which take the road to least resistance and the mandoline remains completely inaudible. They are quite adept, capable musicians, but McMorrows songs couldn't've been performed in a more conservative, traditional fashion.
CONCLUSION
The crowd is cheering loudly and continuously until claim their encore, a highly unusual occurence here at Eurosonic Noorderslag. McMorrow appears on stage by himself to perform a breathtaking versio of Chris Isaaks hit "Wicked Game". Right here at the finish line, the Irish troubadour justifies a well earned triumph at the EBBA award.
GRADE
8-
